| by Mike Lang The Kiwanis Club of
Tulsa Southeast was chartered on September 9, 1965. It was sponsored by the Kiwanis
Club of East Tulsa and the Kiwanis Club of Utica Square. Dr. Ray Warren, local
Optometrist from the Kiwanis Club of East Tulsa was instrumental in getting the club put
together, became a member, and was active for many years.
The Club initially met at the Piccadilly Cafe in Southroads Mall. It had a large
meeting room at the back of the restaurant and we were served buffet style. In the
1970's, we moved to the Harvard Club and were there for many years. The Club
met for several years at The Fountains restaurant
until March 2006 when we moved to the Bourbon Street Cafe at 81st
and Lewis for a few weeks, then moved on to Ryan's Steak House at
74th and Memorial where we met until it closed in the summer of
2007. Currently we meet at the Golden Corral Restaurant at
71st & Mingo.
The Club has been very active in sponsored youth and has provided the Texas/Oklahoma
District with many lieutenant governors, and even had a candidate for governor one year,
Jerry Powell. The Club has sponsored Key Clubs in the past with the Union Key Clubs
being the oldest and largest clubs. The Club has sponsored scholarships for their
Key Club members for many years with monies acquired through various projects. The
Club was also a Charter and continuing sponsor of the MS Regatta
over 25 years ago.
The largest and most financially successful project was that of Santa Claus, which we
provided for Southroads Mall for over 20 years. The members of the Club took turns
at playing Santa Claus and we even had a puppet box with elves that would talk to the
children. If you have never played Santa Claus, it is a very rewarding but very
difficult assignment. In 1981, the Club netted over $10,000.00 for its scholarship
program. In the 1980's the Club's membership was between 45-50. With the
economic downturn in the mid 1980's the Club dropped to less than 25 members but has since
rebounded and normal membership is between 30-40 members. |
